I was thinking about preaching when I came across Rev. Zach Mills' Facebook entry, which says:

"Dream dangerously! We currently live among a generation of people whose dreams are too realistic to do the world any good!"

Dream dangerously. That is a powerful thought. I began to think immediately of our vocation as those who are preaching the Gospel. Preaching is to give a vision of a different world. A world where God is come.

Preaching Birthright Stealers

Today, we are tempted to sell our birthright. Some of us are tempted by a Republican Elephant while others are tempted to give up the vision to a Democratic Donkey. These other vision thieves want to make us think that their vision of reality is what is "proper" or "believable" or "possible." But the impossible truth of Advent, that God is come is our message. We should be preaching that powerful truth. Not the "possible," not that which is "believable," not that which is "proper," but let us preach that crazy truth that God is come.

Some of us are tempted to sell our birthright of preaching a message where all are blessed for proclamation that the rich are blessed and the poor are getting what they deserve. That is not the dangerous truth that Advent pushes us to teach. That is not the dangerous truth that is good news for all people (Luke 2:10).

Some of us are selling our birthright. We are selling our birthright when we attempt to make people shout without preaching something to shout about. Advent reminds us that our joy is not based in our possessions, neither in what we will get, but in the fact that God is come.

Some of us are selling our birthright. We are selling it when we forget that the God given vision of the coming kingdom is greater than even our conception of it.

Let Us Preach Again

In Revelation 10:10, the prophet John was called to come eat a book. The book was sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly. Yes, many of us have been preaching a message that seemed sweet in the mouth. We liked to equate the Gospel of God with a political agenda. Yes, it was sweet in our mouths, but it became bitter in our bellies.

Yes, we have allowed our vision to be distorted by what we thought was "possible," and that message was sweet in our mouths, but it became bitter in our bellies. But thank God, in Revelation 10:11, just like John, we are called to preach again to the world. God is calling us to preach again.

We ain't done all that we should, but let us preach rightly this weekend. Perhaps we have not dared to dream and preach that dream that the "Kingdom of God is Come." (Matthew 10:7) We may not have done it, but guess what, you are called to preach again. I dare you to preach it like God has called you to preach it this coming week. Dream dangerously and let God find you preaching the truth and changing the world!

As Christians, our political system is not a democracy, but a theocracy. This is a One party system. If we concern ourselves more with the happenings of the world than the Kingdom, then we forget that our true calling includes living differently from the world and, as proclaimers, lead others into doing the same thing. Also, we must never forget that we can accomplish things that are seemingly impossible to us if we only rely on God's blessing and the knowledge that if it's something that He wants done, He will give us the means to accomplish it. This is a huge assurance His Church has lost. Living like the world by relying on ourselves and excluding God puts more faith in the world and ourselves than in God...the One and only one in which all things are possible.

I agree with mark Haines, Brother Cox, your post will preach! Thank you for it. The line that is resounding in my spirit is, "We are selling our birthright when we attempt to make people shout without preaching something to shout about." This Sunday, I commit to preaching something to shout about! God bless you.

Woo, Doug, good, good stuff in your post. I would add to Sherman Cox's inspiring article - make sure your dreams are God-created, not self-created. Just because we think of it and it's big doesn't make it godly.

Your CommentsThis is a great article. I like all the comments as well. I add my comments, not to correct anything but to hopefully add something. Pastor Cox, maybe this is what you mean by dream. In the past, I have had my agenda and I went to God with it to see what He would say. I recently learned (being the slow learner that I am) to go to God without my agenda and just ask what He says to me at this time. He always gives me something for my life and it touches deeply in my heart. It is always applicable to my small flock as well because what instructs me, instructs them as well. When I take what He gives me to His written word, it expands beautifully and meaningfully. When I follow His leading, I can't go wrong. I know this is simple to say but I am easily distracted from it and I don't think I am alone in getting distracted.

Excellent challenge to all of us. If I understand correctly, to preach God's dangerous truth is not to preach shallow messages; we got to stop selling health, wealth and happiness illusions; and we got to stop tickling people's ears. If I read you right, what we need to do is to preach the truth even if the people do not want to hear it. Man that is dangerous ... you could end up losing your congregation! Of course you would be gaining the approval of Jesus.

The truth, a.k.a., "God's powerful weapons", is certainly dangerous to preach in the citadel of apostasy or the churches which are all against direct and personal knowledge of God according to the terms of the "new covenant" and the teaching in the gospel.

I wish pastors will read this.It is high time we preach the mind of God and not what people want to hear just for keeping numbers in the church. Raise kingdom people not just full seat.The only one to fear is He who sent us not those He send us to be bold to preach the dangerous truth.